posted on May 15, 2003 01:31:13 PM new
Hello. Does anyone here have any first-hand experience with shipping items to the Canary Islands, Spain? If so, any tips or warnings you'd care to share? I shipped a package to a bidder 25 days ago, and he says he did not receive it. This bidder gave me 2 slightly different shipping addresses, both of which he says are correct, and he's previously negged two other ebay sellers because his package was not received. Otherwise, this bidder's feedback and the feedback he leaves
seems pretty normal. But his ebay feedback page says he's from the USA, which is not true. He paid fairly fast, and the Customs amount was listed accurately, and I indicated that it was merchandise, as I always do. The value was approx $51 US, before shipping costs.
When this bidder first told me about his missing package, I showed him the shipping log info from Endicia, and I also showed him the 2 different addresses he himself gave me
(one in an e-mail, one in his Paypal payment). I asked him for contact phone numbers or e-mails for his Customs authorities, but he says he can't provide the information.
Keeping the above in mind, has anyone here heard of any especially suspicious activity on the part of Customs or the post office in Spain? Is it possible that it's just a delay
by the post office or Customs and the package still has a chance to be received safe & sound? Any info would be appreciated, especially if someone has experienced something similar.
Thanks very much, and I could really use some help.
posted on May 15, 2003 01:52:15 PM new
If USPS got it in with the surface mail then it would probably take at least 6 weeks.
A bidder in the UK said he always reqest surface mail and sometimes it gets mixed up and goes with the airmail and gets there in a week. I am sure they probably do the opposite way too.
I would tell them to wait at least 7 weeks.
posted on May 15, 2003 01:56:17 PM new
I would advice you to only take bidpay payments if you ship overseas. I take a risk if its a low priced item but on anything over twenty bucks I will not take paypal.
As you have no control over how fast the mail will move or custom holdups etc. There is no reason they should be crying to you about this at this date.
How was this sent? Air or surface? Air is not too bad, but surface can take a month or more.
Just tell them to wait as it will get there sooner or later.
posted on May 15, 2003 01:58:35 PM new
Hello
I have shipped in that area with no problem.
You did not say weight but I ALWAYS Ship registered for over any amount I cannot eat. In all areas I insist on reg mail or buyer risk. (I make that plain in my lot listing and following e-mails. If you are going to have problems, that is the time to have them.)
There are a few areas in the world you cannot send registered, in that case I explain it to buyer and we decide what to do.
Your package may have gone surface no matter what you paid for or is being held by local customs for buyer to come get it when he gets a notice. If it is undeliverable and if you marked customs form correctly you probably will get your lot back in 60 days or so.
Many of my buyers go to customs and check for their shipments, which are usually there.
I would suggest that the international postal system don’t work for you so you are at it’s mercy just like him (Buyer)” but together we will resolve any problems in due time.”
Sometimes that works sometimes it doesn’t.
Good luck
David
posted on May 15, 2003 02:38:47 PM new
Everyone, I just can't thank you enough for all the advice. I feel better already, although nothing has been resolved. The details that I didn't include in my first posting was that I shipped the package airmail, and it weighed 8 ounces. Knowing it had a long trip, I packed it super securely.
The bidder doesn't want to provide me with his local postal or customs contact info, unfortunately. I've never had a problem before shipping to Spain, and I've done it about 30 times previously.
Anyway, thank you everybody for helping me out. I'll just ask this bidder to wait a bit longer, due to the advice I've seen in this thread.
Much appreciated!
Jack
PS: To the poster that suggested Bidpay for international payments, I would consider international payments strictly via Bidpay. But to me it seems they could get just as lost, albeit without the risk of a chargeback as with Paypal payments. I just don't want to lose any of the various international customers I have, and there are quite a few.
posted on May 15, 2003 03:06:15 PM newBut to me it seems they could get just as lost, albeit without the risk of a chargeback as with Paypal payments. I just don't want to lose any of the various international customers I have, and there are quite a few.
Only you know how much risk you are willing to take so I would just state again that bidpay is better as a payment to you as there are no chargebacks.
Yes, things can get lost etc. but if for any reason you can not get insurance or the buyer does not want to pay the added cost then there is no reason that you should take all the risk. Their choice, then they can live with it.
posted on May 16, 2003 11:56:02 AM new
"Registered costs $7.25 and the indemnity limit is $40.45
Hardly seems worthwhile"
Hello
What you say is generally true however all mail sent registered is in locked sacks; each item must be signed for before transfer to another PO etc. A lost registered letter complaint will result in a small-scale postal investigation and a possible loss of someone’s employment. Registered mail is taken very seriously. Since 1998 I have sent perhaps 3000 registered items all over the world and have never had one lost yet though I had one returned. It's not the insurance if lost, it is no loss to begin with, that is the key.
posted on May 16, 2003 12:42:23 PM new
one day my postman delivered a registered mail to me,it was slit open and then sealed with local post office tape indicating it was open when they get it.
the postman explained to me that everyone knows registered mail is valuable and someone got to it with a sharp razor and removed 48 dollars cash coming from singapore.
now i just have an israeli bidder who would not use bidpay (to save money) and is now sending cash.
i doubt if she is sending registered as that would cost her money too.
so if it were stolen ,she would be out of 115 dollars.
i also know cases where the seller claims he never receive the cash when in fact he may have.
posted on May 17, 2003 05:22:53 AM new
Just a note about R-Mail: ye must use PAPER TAPE only for sealing! That's so the PO can stamp all the seams with an inked-seal!
Donna use NO cellophane or plastic tape!
Just a WTTW
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?" http://tinyurl.com/5duz
posted on May 17, 2003 06:49:00 AM new
i have a bronze item weighing under 2 lbs going to israel,i quote her 13.95 for regular first class air.
buyer suggested global priority envelope for 9.00 .
i said it is too heavy to be shipped in an envelope,plus it is the lenghth of a pistol and israeli customs would probably want to look at it (which means they will open and reseal the envelope).
now she insists we can ship in global priority BOX for 9 dollars or better,ship global express for 13.95.
she pointed out that my problem is that i get the quote from usps.com and not from the post office .
can anyone clarify this for me??
can you ship under 2 lbs package under global express for 13.95 or under global priority box for 9.00 to israel.
part II-
Instead of using bidpay which costs money,she is now sending me cash,$115 .
i doubt if it is registered as it would cost her money.
why do people buy an item for 100 and risk-
getting the cash stolen or getting the item damaged in transit??
